Education - Spring 1998

This course takes a hands-on and analytic approach to understanding how to design and build computer-centered environments to support children's learning. The course will be limited to 20 participants, with priority given to upper-division education minors. The course will be taught in conjunction with a required practicum during which students will work directly with children and youths from Santa Cruz's Barrios Unidos Community Center. The general purpose of the course is to investigate how children learn, particularly in self-directed, informal ways, and how to provide computer activities that are engaging, constructive, and educational.

The course will consist of two parts: a lab-based seminar in which we focus on both the technical and theoretical aspects of designing computer-based instruction, and a practicum in which participants will spend 5 hours a week as mentors to children from Barrios Unidos. The practicum will most likely meet on campus, with access to computing facilities, and will involve groups of 15-25 children. As mentors, students will respond to and be supportive of the children's interests, which may include working on the computers as well as a range of other activities.

The major course assignment will be the design and creation of a computer-based learning environment, which will be tested with the cooperation of interested children. This environment might take one of several forms. It might be a stand-alone piece of educational software. It might be a set of activities utilizing Lego-Logo, a computer construction kit. It might be a Web site constructed in collaboration with the children. Or it might involve some other creative approach to utilizing computer technology to help kids learn.

As part of the course, I will teach the basics of programming using Microworlds, a multimedia-oriented version of the Logo programming language, and I will introduce Web authoring tools. You do not have to have a computer science or programming background to take the class, although you must be very comfortable working with Macintosh computers.

You must sign up to take BOTH the course (Ed 142) AND the 2-unit practicum (Ed 111). The course will meet MW from 6-7:45 pm, and the practicum will take place from 3:30 - 6:00 pm on MTW and F (each student will attend the practicum twice per week, for a total of 5 hours. If you want to take the course, please keep the 3:30-6:00 pm time slot clear until the practicum scheduling has been completed.)

Readings for the course will be drawn from literature on user interface design, technology in education, and learning theory. The emphasis of the course will be on examining actual examples of educational software, interacting with children as they play and learn, and developing design principles in a real-world context.

If you are interested in learning more about the course, feel free to send e-mail to:

Laurie Edwards, Assistant Professor of Education:

edwards@cats.ucsc.edu

and/or look at:

Barrios Unidos Web page: http://www.mercado.com/juventud/barrios/barrios.htm

Note: I will be hiring a teaching assistant for the course; if you have experience with computer programming and working with children, please contact me at the e-mail above.

Revised 7/13/04.